more specifically, at the splint. “I’m sorry, we tried, but I’m not sure your nose will ever be the same.”
If memory served, she was lucky to be alive. Possible nasal reconstruction was the least of Caroline’s concerns. “They used the butt of a handgun. Multiple times. And I think there may have been some stomping involved too.”
Maureen stared down at the duffle bag and didn’t say anything.
“It’s not your fault,” Caroline said softly. “I’m sure you’ve done what you could with regard to my medical care.”
Maureen cleared her throat, shaking off whatever had been bothering her. “Maybe if we’d all paid a little more attention, we could have prevented all of this.”
Caroline stood up. “Not much we can do about it now.”
“Shifts have switched over. We’re in the wee hours of the morning. Time to make a break. You ready?”
Caroline smiled at her, stretching again as best she could. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s roll.”
Chapter Two
The Hospital
They were almost to the door when Maureen spun around, almost knocking Caroline over. “We maybe should talk about this first. We have to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
Caroline was a little concerned that she’d forgotten they hadn’t discussed a course of action. She also hadn’t noticed a gun. “Please tell me you’re armed.”
“You think that’s necessary?”
Had she been living under a rock? Caroline shook her head. Her thoughts were still slow to come and her normally solid logic failed her. “You’re kidding, right?”
Maureen looked a little offended. “Those people out there can be trusted. I know the night nurse. Nora’s a good person.”
Like that mattered. “Does she know what you’re planning to do?”
“I haven’t told anyone about this. And I didn’t exactly seek her out when I arrived. But she’ll turn a blind eye, I’m sure.”
“You know your staff better than me,” Caroline said. “I’m surprised there aren’t any law enforcement officers out there. I assumed the feds had someone camped outside my door.”
“They said they’d be coming later this morning to transport you.”
“And you believed them?”
“Did I have a choice?” Maureen sighed. “Look, I was just out there five minutes ago and the nurses were the only people milling around. At this hour, they aren’t always that alert.”
Maureen clearly didn’t appreciate the gravity of their situation. Caroline had a very bad feeling about this.
“If we get caught, you go down too,” she said.
Maureen blanched but smiled anyway. “I know.”
“So we’re just gonna make a break for it?”
“Can you think of a better idea? How else are we going to get out?”
Without firearms, they didn’t have many options. “You have a point.”
“We’ll slip down the stairs. They’re only a few feet across and to your left when you leave the room. Come on.”
“Maybe you should do a check first,” Caroline said. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she caught an eye roll.
“Fine.” Maureen peeked her head out the door.
It only took a second, maybe two, for a uniformed man to drag Maureen out into the hallway and shove her into another soldier’s arms. He heaved open the door and laid eyes on Caroline. “Well, what do we have here?”
Her heart sank. They couldn’t even get off the floor before getting caught. Not that they’d had an elaborate escape plan, but still. Fifteen feet to freedom, and of course they were sitting ducks. Again she wished for a gun. Loaded or not. Operational or not. She’d kill for a goddamn butter knife. A spork, even. Dental floss. Anything.
“Thank you for getting here so quickly.” Nora smiled at them. “Told ya she was ready to bolt.”
Maureen struggled in the soldier’s grip. “You bitch. I fucking trusted you.”
The smile turned into a sneer. “Lesson learned, Dr. Savage. Don’t trust anyone.”
Caroline glanced toward the stairwell just across from her door. Not even fifteen feet. Ten. A momentary sprint if the hallway were empty and she were at full strength. No way out, not without a distraction. They were surrounded. Almost all of the men had their guns drawn.
“Run,” Maureen whispered, breaking free and swinging her duffle bag at the soldiers.
Caroline pushed past the soldier in her way and took off, but only made it a few feet before she was tackled to the ground. Her legs were weaker than she thought and the hallway was narrow. She had no place to go.
“Terrible medical advice, doctor,” one of the men said. “That traitor can barely move.”
A third man, who appeared to be an officer, grabbed Maureen by the neck and yanked the duffle out